Errors cost Cubs in 3-1 loss to Brewers

But scoring change enables Barney to set NL errorless mark

Selling tickets this winter likely will be a tough task for the Cubs' marketing department now that fans have gotten a chance to see just how far the team is from turning it around.

The familiar "Wait till next year" adage has evolved into "Wait till the year after the year after next year," when presumably Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Jeff Samardzija and perhaps Jorge Soler could form the core of a possible playoff contender.

Until that time comes, everyone will just have to suffer through months like August, where the Cubs are 6-21 after a 3-1 loss Wednesday night to the Brewers.

But three errors in the seventh, including a throwing error by Samardzija on Nyjer Morgan's bunt, sealed his fate.

"We throw the ball away three times within about three minutes," manager Dale Sveum said. "It's unfortunate they scored a couple of runs out of that, but sometimes that stuff happens trying to be aggressive."

Darwin Barney set a National League single-season record with record with his 114th consecutive game at second base without an error.

Jean Segura's bloop single gave the Brewers the lead, and they added another run when Segura stole second, went to third on Welington Castro's throwing error and scored on another error by Luis Valbuena, who missed Barney's throw to third.

Barney originally was charged with an error on the throw, but the call was later changed upon review, enabling Barney to set the record at 114 later.

"I figured it was (my error)," he said. "But at that time, your thoughts are on Samardzija, on doing whatever you can to have an opportunity to win a ballgame …"

But the Cubs wound up with only four hits, and are 3-13 against the Brewers with one game remaining.

When the season ends, it will be up to kids like Rizzo, Samardzija, Castro and Barney to help sell the promise of the rebuild. But Barney said he doesn't think the onus is on the kids to "market hope" in 2013.

"I think wins sell (tickets)," he said, adding, "We're going to take care of our business in the offseason. Jeff and I have already been talking about what we're going to do in Arizona. I have plans of beating Dale in golf and working on a lot of baseball things.

"Our fans are very loyal and they're outspoken. They're going to tell you what they think."

Barney pointed out that the Cubs outdrew the White Sox in all six games when both were in town.

"The amazing thing is that it shows what our fan base thinks about our club and where we're at and where we're going," he said. "If we start winning some ballgames it's going to get really exciting here."

Winning some ballgames would be a good step in the right direction, though it's a little late for anyone to get excited this season.